Recorder for telephone-connections



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. 0. $HIRAS.

EEcoEnEE FOR TELEPHONE CONNECTIONS.

N0.'251, 4'76. Patented Dec. 27,1881,

(NO Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet2. J. 0. SHIRAS.

- RECORDER FOR TELEPHONE CONNECTIONS. N0. 251,476. Patented Dec. 27,1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES O. SHIRAS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

RECORDER FOR TELEPHONE-CONNECTIONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,476, datedDecember 27, 1881.

Application filed April 15,1ss1. (No model.)

Telephone-Connections, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for registering the number of connections made at the switch-boards of telephone-exchanges and the number of connections of each individual subscriber; and the invention consists in a series of keys or buttons under control and adapted to be depressed by the operator or switch-board attendant, all arranged to act upon a common register and each arranged to feed and punctare or otherwise mark a strip of paper or like the operators table or switch-board instead ofmaterial,-or to actuate individual registers of other form; in means for operating such registerin g device from a distance; in the peculiar mechanism by which the several operations are effected, and in various details and combinations, hereinafter set forth.

Registering devices have hitherto been constructed to be operated in the act of calling the operator at the central office or switch-station; but such arrangement is objectionable in that each call of this nature is registered regardless of failure or success in securing a con-- nection with the desired party, and, further, in that the aggregate number of calls overall lines is not indicated. To overcome these difficult-ies I apply my registering apparatus at at the call-bell, thus bringing all within convenient reach of the operator or attendant, and arrange each to actuate a common or general register, as well as its individual registcrin device.

In the accom pan yin gdrawin gs, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved registering apparatus; Fig. 2, a vertical crosssection of the same; Fig. 3, a view showing the arrangement for discoloringor marking a chemically-prepared strip; Fig. 4, a view illustrating the apparatus for operating the register from a distance.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the mechanism employed where the apparatus is under the immediate control and management of the operator will be explained.

Arepresents a box or caseofsuitableform and dimensions, and B a horizontal shaft extending longitudinally through the same and furnished with a series of ratchet-wheels, a, fast thereon, and each adapted to be rotated by a pawl or dog, I), carried by aloose ratchet-wheel, c, placed by the side of the first, and in turn arranged to be rotated bya pawl, d, upon a sliding stem or rod, e, passing out through the top or side of the box, and provided with an elevating spring and a fin ger-piece or button, 0, as shown.

Under this arrangement it will be seen the de pression of any button or stem serves to advance the loose ratchet-wheel, with which it engages, one tooth, and this wheel in turn, through the engagement of its pawl with the teeth of the adjoining fixed ratchet-wheel, advances the latter and its shaft a like distance and causes one stroke to be recorded by the register D, with which said shaft connects. It will also be observed that owing to the fact that one wheel in each pair is loose upon the shaft and connected with its companion by a forwardlyengaging spring-pawl, the shaft is allowed to turn forward without moving the loose wheels of any set other than the one actuated by the finger-piece.

Each of the loose wheels 0 has secured to its I side a friction-wheel, f, opposite both faces of which are located reels or drums D, which carry a narrow strip of paper or like material, g, one drum serving to take up the strip as it is wound or reeled off by the other. The frictionwheel, being secured to the loose ratchet-wheel in each set, is of course caused to move or rotate in unison therewith, and in doing so imparts motion to the paper-rolls, which are caused to bear with proper force against said friction-wheel by spring-pressure, weight, or like means, a spring, h, being shown in the drawings arranged to draw toward one another the swinging arms i, in which the reels are mounted. This arrangement is peculiarly advantageous in that the tension of the spring remains always the same. The arms i, being jointed or free to swing, adaptthemselves to the varying diameters of the paper-rolls, occasioned by the winding of the strip from one reel to the other.

The stems e, by which the rotation of the paper-reels and the operation of the register are effected, are arranged to continue their movement slightly after their pawls cease to advance the ratchet-wheels, and formed or pro- Vided each with a marking device ofsome kind at its end to act upon the paper strip at a point between the two reels and indicate each stroke or movement of its finger=piece or button thereby, A rod or bar, j, serves to limit the movement of the pawls b.

In Fig. 2 the stems are represented as adapted and arranged to puncture or perforate the paper strip, a block or plate, E, being arranged beneath each, over which thepaper strip travels and by which it is supported while being perforated, and rollers being arranged to hold the paper upon the block.

The foregoing construction causes the indicator to be operated. by every stroke of a key or finger-piece, and each stroke of a particular key advances its strip and causes a mark to be made thereon or a perforation to be formed therein. In Fig. 3 the arrangement of parts remains the same, except that the rod or stem and the'supporting-block form respectively the opposite electrodes of a battery-circuit, the paperor strip being in this case chemically prepared, so that upon the passage of the electric current through it a discoloration of such portion thereofshall take place in the manner -well understood. Letters, dates, or other symbols may be thus formed upon the strip. Where the registering-strip is to be stamped with letters, figures, or other symbols a strip of carbonized paper or chemically-prepared ribbon may be arranged to pass under the stamping device, and so connected with the stamping mechanism of each individual register as to be advanced at each operation of it; or a broad strip may be extended under the series of registers and so connected with the shaft B as to be advanced by its operation, the successive registering-stems being slightly out of line with each other, so as to strike upon different portionsof the surface; or the strip of carbonized paper may be wound in with or placed beneath the registering-strip; or any other convenient method of applying and feeding the carbonized paper or chemically-prepared ribbon may be used.

There are as many paper-rolls and buttons or keys, with their attendant mechanism, as there are subscribers wires and consequent switch-connections, arranged and designated to correspond with said wires, respectively, thus permitting a record of the calls of each to be kept.

placed in convenient position to be manipir lated by the operator or attendant, each arranged to perfector completea battery-circuit when depressed, and thereby to throw into action an electro-magnet, G, at the desired point, causing its armature H to be attracted and to depress the corresponding stem or rod of the registering apparatus, which latter will be of the construction already described.

It is obvious that the keys or finger-pieces may be made to operate by an upward instead of a downward stroke by arranging the pawls connected with the operating-stems at the opposite side of the center. Such latter arrangement may be found desirable under some circumstances; but ordinarily the other plan will be preferred.

It will also be seen that other forms of register may be employed for recording the calls of individual subscribers-as,for-instance, a train of gear wheels provided with indicators or pointers'to travel over dials, as in the general or aggregate registering device herein shown. Thearrangementshown and described is, however, deemed best, as it is cheap and simple, and as it admits of the strip or the perforated portion thereof being severed from the roll and attached to the bill rendered a subscriber as an evidence of its correctness.

Apinion and gear-wheels maybe substituted for the friction-wheel bearingdirectly upon the paper-rolls,forimparting motion to the paper reels; but the above-described construction is considered preferable.

If desired, the two plans of marking the strip--that is to say, by perforating and by discoloring the same-may be combined and the discoloration made to record the day and hour, the name of the subscriber, or other matter, while the perforations record the number of calls.

\Vhere several independent switch-boards are employed the individual registering devices of each may be connected by any suitable intermediate mechanism with a register common to all, to indicate the aggregate of all the switches or connections.

The register-keys may be so arranged with reference to the connecting end of the operators wire as to be automatically operated in the act of making the switclrconncction.

I claim- 1. In an apparatus for registering the calls or connections of subscribers over telephonelines, the combination of a register to indicate the aggregate number of-connections, one or more recording devices to indicate the indi vidual subscribers to whom the connections are chargeable, and intermediate devices, substantially such as described, adapted and arranged to simultaneously actuate one of the individual reccrlers and the aggregate register.

2. In combination witha series of recording devices adapted to be independently actuated and keep a running record with individual sub- IIO scribers, a register adapted to be operated by each of said recording devices to indicate the aggregate number of actuations thereof.

3. A recording device consisting of two drums or rolls carrying a paper strip, an intermediate wheeladapted to impart motion thereto, and a reciprocating stem adapted to impart motion to said wheel and to bear upon and mark the paper strip, substantially as described.

4. In a recording device, the combination of two rolls or drums adapted to feed a paper strip, an intermediate frictionwvheel adapted to rotate said drums and provided with a ratchet-wheel, and a sliding stem adapted to engage said ratchet wheel and to bear upon and mark the paper strip.

5. In combination with aregister-shaft carrying a series of fixed ratchet-wheels, a series of loose ratchet-wheels mounted by the side of the first and carrying pawls to engage with the fixed wheels, independent recording devices connected with and actuated by the loose wheels, and independent movable stems adapted to actuate the individual recording device, substantially as shown and described.

6. In arecording registering device, the combination of a friction-wheel, two rolls adapted and arranged to feed a strip of material from one to the other, held against opposite faces of said friction wheel and rotated thereby, a stem adapted to rotate saidfriction-wheel, and a marking device adapted to act upon the strip, as and for the purpose explained.

7.. In a recording device, a friction wheel, two paper-reels located respectively on opposite sides of said wheel, adapted to transfer their contents from one to the other and mounted in movable supports, and a spring extending from one of said supports to the other, whereby a uniform pressure is main- ..tained between the friction-wheels and the strip upon the reels.

8. In combination with a recording mechanism substantially such as described, a series of electro-magnets controlling the operatingstems thereof and a series of buttons or equivalent devices for throwing the electromagnets into action, whereby each operatingstem may be controlled from a distance.

9. A series of register keys corresponding with and representing a series of subscribers switch-connections in a telephone-exchange, each key actuating an independent recording mechanism representing a single subscriber, arranged and adapted, substantially as described, for use in connection with the switch board or table under the immediate control of the operator, whereby he is enabled to make and simultaneously to record against the calling party any switch-connection.

JAMES O. SHlRAS.

Witnesses:

J. OELERING, DANL. KELLY. 

